Circuit-closer for trolley-signals.



PATENTED 139V. 13, 1906.

A. Bambi. 011mm": CLOSER FORTRQLLEY swmm APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 1908.

2 REEVES-SHEET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 18, 1906.

A. BEVANK CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR TROLLBY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-6.1906

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2 l/wweoseo v attoznci I tuating-lever,

' ing system :should be employed to ALEXANDER BEV AN, 0F PROVIDENCE,RHODE ISLAND,

ASSIGNCR TO THE RECORD ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PROVI- DENCE,RHODE ISLAND,

A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

' CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR TFlOLLEY-SIGNALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented H0113, 1 906.

Application filed February 6.19%.. Serial No. 299,771.

To aZZ whom it v may-concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BEVAN, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at the city of Providence, in the county of Providence andState-of Rhode Island, have invented certain new andii'sefulImprovements in Circuit-Closers for Trolley-Signals, of which, thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to an electric switch, and is embodied ina switch for railway signaling and analogous .pur oses in which thecontacts are operated by the movement of a traveling object, such as asuitable projection or engaging portion carried by .a car or vehicle. I

As herein shown, the switch is arrangedto be operated by the trolley ofan electric car, and is espcially adaptedfor use with ablo'ck-signalforelectric railways in which certain signals are set when the car entersabl'ock and put out when the car leaves the same.

'It is essentialthat a switch of this kind should be positive in its 0'eration and that a good contact should be made for a sufficient lengthof time whether the car which operates the switch is traveling at a highspeed or not. The contact made by the trolley'upon the ac- 'tuatingleveris ordinarily very short, even if the car is running at a moderatespeed, and when the car roceeds at a high speed the contact on sai'lever is 'so short as to be entirely inefiective. Means. therefore havebeen provided for prolonging, the electrical contact period to asuitable length oftime to properly operate the signals that maybelocated at some distant point; 7 j

' A further object of. he invention is to so constructthe device that asingle actuatinglever may be employed to operate each of a air of'conta'ct arms, -so that by moving said ever in one direction one ofsaid contacts will be closed-and when moving in the opposite directiontheother contact will be closed.

It is also desirable to arrange the switch with two sets of independentmechanism, each of which are 0 erated by the-single acandl ave found itmost essenthat positive stopping means engage and. prevent saidactuating-lever from swmging backtial in practice ward, engaging. andoperating the mechanknown as a maker,

same depth, some will return quickly ,it will move slowly -of having ismon the opposite side, causing what is back contact. As is well known,when this back contacting occurs the signals are again'acted upon,completely disarranging the whole system, which then becomes unreliable.

To attain these objects, bodying the resent invention is shown asrovided with two sets of contact-makers having a common actuating-leverindependent of said contact-makers, but adapte by itsmovement in onedirection to operate one contact-maker and by its movement in the theswitch em other direction to operate the other contactand saidactuating-lever is revente positive stopping mechanism om movmo'mentumpast its norosition. this invention is the ar y by a ing back by its ownmal or intermediate Another'feature Q rangement of the retardinmechanism which I am enabled to comp period of contact entirelyindependent of the throw of the actuating-lever. practicethat when a caris traveling at a rate-of speed the actuating-lever and its en gagingmechanism is thrown when the car is passing more slowly. Then, again,all trolley-wheel grooves are not of the after having been worn flanges.This also have dee er projecting has a ten ency to throwtheactuating-lever a greater or less distance. 'Tocompensate for thisuneven stroke in the mechanism, I have arranged a vent-hole in theretardingcylinder,- so that the attending mechanism to a given point.Thenuntil the contacting fin-. ger is about to breakits connection,wmechanism will drop quickly, causing said connection to break quickly.This feature the mechanism start back quickly to a given feature anof-contact. v

The invention consists of other novel features and parts andcombinations of the same, as Wlll be fully described hereinafter andthen pointed out in the A practical embodiment o e invention isrepresented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this 'secification, in whlch similar characters of re erence indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

nicely controls the exact period etely control thehen the I point beforeit is retarded is a new It is found in a high.

farther than afqplended claims.

pendent mechanism,

side of this cylinder is formed the In the drawings, Figural is' 'a sideeleva tion of the contact-box and mechanism, partly in section, showingtwo sets of inde one set in the up or closed position and one setin thedown or open position. same. Fig. 3 is a central sectional end View 'ofthe device.

Referring to the drawings, at 1 is the baseplate of the device, on whichthe mechanism is mounted. This base itself is preferably supported fromthe trolley-wire in the usual way, (not shown,) or it may be supportedby any other means adjacent to said wire. On this base is mounted twosupporting side frames 2 2. At 3 is the actuatlng-lever pivoted to theframe at 4 to swing freely in either direction. The lower end of thislever is preferably forked, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to straddle thetrolley-wire 5 when in its down position. Pivoted at 6 in the. upper endof this lever is the contact-roll 7, that is held to turn freely when itengages either of the knee-levers 8 8 on either side of the roll 7.' Atthe upper end of this actuating-lever are fixed the two lugs orprojections 7 one on either side of the roll 7.

In constructing my devicel have made -two sets (if independent mechanismand located the same one at each side of the centerof the box, each setbeing an exact duplication of the other. At 9 is a piston held tooscillate slightly by being pivoted to the frame at 10. This piston isprovided with an inlet air-passage 11 through it, communicating with itsupperend, the opening in which passage is controlled by the ball-valve12, set into the enlarged hole 13. At 14 is another air-passageextending downward from the upper faceo'f the piston, part way throughthe piston, and then out through its side at 15. Sliding vertically overthis piston is the cylinder 16, the bottom of which is 0 en and the topcoveredwith the cap 1.7. rough the vent-hole 1-8, the vertical positionof which hole determining the distance of the first quick drop of thecylinder after being released by the opcrating-lever, and the period oftime the cylthe cap 17 is the ear 19, to w ie is at 20 the longitudinalarm 8 of the inder is traveling from the top face of the piston to thehole 15 determinesthe protracted period of contact. PIOjGCtiIlQ u wardfrom ivoted nee-lever 8. This lever is pivoted in turn to the frame at2-1, and its depending arm extends down into position to be engaged bythe roller 7 in the upper end of the swinging ac tuating-lever 3.Pivoted on this downwardly-extending arm at 30 is the roll 31, thatextends out laterally therefrom to engage the stop-lever,hereinaftendeseribed. On the under side of the arm 8 is secured thehooked finger 25.

Pivoted at 22, directly beneath the longi Fig. -2 is an end view of thetudinal arm 8 of tact-lever 23 the lower end of which lever is '28 inthe form of a I construction and mode Fig. 1- of the drawings this theright, and in the knee-lever, is the conadapted to swing into and withthe contact-fingers 24. This lever is also provided at its. upper endwith an arm 24', extending outward from the center a proximately at.right angles thereto. T e end of this arm is adapted to be engaged anddrawn upward by the said hooked member 25, there y positively throwinthe lower end of said lever into contact with the contactfingers 24.These contact fingers 24 are mounted on the insulated block 32, and tothem is connected the conductor-wire 33 by means of the binding-post 34.

Pivoted at 26 to the frame is the stop-lever 27, the outer end of whichis turned down at hook and adapted to 'engage the lug 7* on the up erend of the actuating-lever 3. a This hoo ed end 28 is normally held upout of engagement with said actuating-lever by the tension of spring 29,said lever .being forced down into position'to engage and stop thebackward swing ofthe' actuating-lever by the engagement of the roll 31on the inclined up er edge of saidlever- 27 as the said kneeever isforced outward from its rest position. I 4 The trolley-wire'in thisdevice constitutes a part of the circuit controlled by the switch orcontacts, being electrically connected with said .wire in any desiredmanner, usually out of engagement through the metallic framework of thedevice.

(Not shown.) Thearrangement of the cir- -cuits is, however, immaterialso far as relates to the present invention, which resides in the I ofoperation of the switch mechanism.

The operation of the devicemay be further described as follows: The twosets of mechanism shown are both operated. by the swinging dependingactuating-tongue 3.. In tongue is shown as having been operated by a carpassing'to traveling to this osition it has operated the left-handmechamsnn The group of mechanism at the rightof thecentral line is shownin its down or normal position, illustrating its contact-arm as beingout of connection with its contact-fingers. As

' the actuating-lever is moved by the passing trolley, the contactrollengagesthe ,downward] and t rough it raises the retarding-cylinder 16.At the same time the hooked member 25, that engages. the end of the arm24, raises this arm and positively throws the contact-lever 23 intoconnection with the contact-fingers 24. After this connection has beenmade the arm 8 of the knee-lever continues upward, leaving the arm 24*in. said contact position. The same stroke of the depending knee-leveralso causes the roll 31, pivoted thereto, to engagethe inclined surface35 .of the stop-lever 27, causing said IIO -extending arm. 8 of theknee-lever would rebound and have a stop-lever to be forced downwardinto position to engage the lug 7' on the upper end of theactuating-lever and positively prevent said lever'irom swinging backwardbeyond its central position when the same is released alter the trolleyhas passed beneath it. Were it not for this stop this lever after beingstruck by the rapidly-moving trolley-Wheel tendency to swing over andengage the mechanism on the oppo-' site side, causing the same to makeanother or back contact, which would completely disarrange the signalsand render the same unreliable; but by my construction theactuating-lever when released at once returns to its central positionand stops, allowing the'cyl index 16 to return at will by gravity to itsnormal position. The firstaction of the cylinder after being released onaccount of the vent-hole 18 is to drop quickly until. said vent reachesthe head or top surface of the piston 9, thereby quickly taking up allof the lost motion of the mechanism. then continues of the samegradually withdrawing the contact lever 23 "from its contact-fingers 24until said contact-lever is about to break its connection therewith, atwhich tirre the vent-hole 18 reaches the opening 15 in the piston,which. allows said cylinder to again drop quickly, and therebyiistantlydraw the contact-lever from. its finger-contacts, making a quickbreak in. the connection, which,

as is'well known, is of utmost importance in all mechanism wherehigh-tension currents are employed. The length of time of this contactis nicely controllcdby the distance between the head or upper face ofthe piston and theopening 15. and all of the lost or excess motion dueto the unevenness of the throw in the actuating-lever or other 1rechanism. is taken u instantly by the initial quick return of t 1emechanism ahove described. This uniformity in the contact period orquick return to a given point is an essential feature, as oftentimes anumber of cars ass in close succession, and it is essential tiiat thislost motion should be instantly taken up and only the necessary timegivento the contact to enable the system. to work properly and then bereturned to its normal position in time to be again actuated by the nextcar. which may follow but a few seconds after. When a passing car positedirection, the actuating-lever engages and operates the duplicatemechanism on the other side of the lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let. tors Patent, is-- 1. In a circuit-closer, a pair ofcontacts, a

pair of contact-arms, means including an ac- 1 .tua'Lmg-lerrer wherebyone of said arms may be fpositively actuated to close the circuit onetime a car passes, and means including The piston downward slowly, theweight travels in the opa reciprocating cylinder arranged to limit l andcontrol tlie period of contact and also causing a quick break in thecircuit.

l 2. In a'circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-arms,means including an actuating-lever whereby-one of said arms may ,bepositively actuated to close the circuit each time, a car passes, andmeans includ ng l a reciprocating cylinder for quickly taking l up theexcess motion of the parts and then prolonging the eriod of contact,said cyl nder being also a apted to cause a quick break in theconnection.

3. In a circuit-closer, pair of contact-arms, means including anactu'ating-lever whereby one-of said arms'may be positively actuated'toclose the circuit each time a carpasses, a non-reciprocat ng a pair ofcontacts, a

piston, and means including a reciprocat ng 1 over said piston arrangedto limit and control the period of contact and also causing a quickbreak in the connection. 4:. In a circuit-closer, pair of contacts, apair of contact-levers, a two-way moving actuating-lever pivoted to theframe to close one or the other contacts of the pair accord ing to whichWay it is moved, means including a reci rocating cylinder for prolongingthe eriod of contact and also to cause a quic break in the connection,and means for engaging and positively stopping said actua-ting-leverwhen it returns to its central position. I

5. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-levers, atwo-Way moving actuating-levr pivoted to the frame to close one or theother contacts of the pair according to which way it is moved, means forcontrolling the periodof contact, means for en'- gaging and positivelystopping said actuating-lever when it returns to its central position,and means whereby said actuating-lever is released when said controllingmeans has returned to its normal position. 6. In a circuit-closer a pairof contacts, a l pair of contact-levers, a two-way movingactuating-lever pivoted to the frame toclose' one or the other contactsof the pair according to which way it is moved, an endwisecylinderworking l movingcylinder adapted to control the period of contact, meansfor engaging and positively stopping said actuating-lever when itreturns to its central position, and means whereby said actuating-leveris released when said cylinder has returned to its normal position. l 7.In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-levers, atwo-way moving actuati-ng-lever pivoted tothe frame to close 1 one orthe other contactsof the pair accordl ing to which way it is moved,means including a reciprocating cylinder for prolonging the period ofcontact and also to cause a quick break in the connection, a locking gmember positioned by one movement of said contact and also der forseparate means actuating-lever to engage and positively stop said leveron its return stroke, and means whereby said actuating lever is releasedwhen said cylinder has returned to its normal position. i

8-. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a

pair of contact-levers, a two way moving ac positively stop said leveron its return stroke.

9. In a circuit-closer,"a pair of. contacts, a

pair of contact-levers, a two-way moving actuating-lever pivoted to theframe to close one or the other contacts of the pair accordmg to whichway it is moved, means including a cylinder for prolonging the period ofto cause a nick break in the connection, a locking mem er positioned byone movement of said actuating lever to en--- gage and positivelystop-said leverv on its return stroke,.and means including saidcylincontrolling the withdrawal of said locking member.

10. A circuit-closefcomprising an actuating-lever, a

pair of reciprocating cylinders arranged toimit and control the periodof contact, means including said actuating-lever by which one of saidcylinders is given an endwise movement when said lever is thrown 1 inone direction, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-arms independentlyhung, means whereby said cylinder-moving mean-s will en gage andpositively move one of said arms into contact when one of said cylindersis raised.

11. A circuit-closer comprising an actuating-lever, a 'pair ofreciprocating cylinders, connected to each cylinder and extending intothe path'of the actuatin lever whereby said cylinder ismoved, a 'pair ofcontacts, a pair of con tact-arms independently hung, means whereby saidcylindermoving means will engage and positively move one of said armsinto contact when one of said cylinders is raised, and a locking memberpositioned by one movement of said actuating-lever to engage andpositively stop said lever tions 7 12. A circuit-closer comprising anactuatinglever, a pair of reciprocating cylinders arranged to quicklytake up'the excess motion of the parts and thus prolong the period ofcontact, a-knee-lever connected to each. of said cylinders and.extending into the path of said actuating-lever, a pair of contacts, a

when it returns-to its central .posipair of contact arms, means wherebyone arm of said knee-lever will engage and posi tively move one 01 saidcontact+arms to com.-

quick break in the of said 'actuating pairof contact-arms pivotally l iI I i i i y and means whereby the return 01 said cylinder will causesaid arm to break said connection e 13. In a circuit-closer, a pair ofcontacts, a panel contactarms, a two-way moving actuating-lever pivotedto the frame to close one or the other contacts'oi the pair according towhich way it is--moved, means including an e'ndwise-mevable cylinder forprolonging the period of contact and a locking momer positioned by onemovement of said actuating-lever to engage and positively stop saidlever on its return stroke. 1

14. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a hung in thc ame, atwo-way moving actuating-lever pivoted to the frame and arranged topositively' close one .or the other contacts of the pair according meansincluding an endwise-mrwal)le cylinder-for prolonging the period ofcontact and causing a quick break in a locking member positioned by onemovement of said actuating-lever to engage and positively stop saidlever on its return stroke.

15. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-arms,means including an actuating-lever whereby one of said arms may beactuated to positivel close the circuit each time a car passes, anon-reciprocating piston pivotally held, an ndwise-moving cylto whichway i t is moved,-

the connection, and

inder working over said piston and arranged to rolo'n the eriod ofcontact.

16. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a pair of contact-arms,means including'an actuating-lever whereby one of said arms may beactuated to positively close the. circuit each time a car passes, anon-reciprocating piston, an endwise-inoving cylinder working over saidpiston and arranged to prolong the period of contact, and means inwhereby the same will start back quickly to take up the excess'motion ofthe parts and then move slowly contact.

17. In a circuit-closer, a pair of contacts, a

pair of contact-arn'is, means including an acof said arms may close thecircuit non-reciprocatmg tuating-lever whereby one be 'actuated topositively each time a car passes, a 7 piston pivota-lly held, anendwise-movable cylinder, and means in said. cylinder whereby the samewill start to return quickly to take up the excess motion of the partsand then move slowly to prolong the period of contact and finally moveat an accelerated speed and cause a quick break in the cmineetion. I

In testimony whereof I asl'lix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ALEXANDER BE VAN. Witnesses HOWARD E. BA'RLOW, E. I. OGDEN.

to prolong the period oil said cylinder lIO

